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I just bought a 1987 Greenwood Coupe, with a heavily modified engine. Runs like 400+ hp. Only problem is I can't find an oil dipstick!!! sounds stupid, but..... I can't see a dry sump under the hood. seems like it must be a dry sump somewhere.
Does anyone have an idea?
On my 86 the dipstick comes up between exhaust ports 6 and 8.
Suggest having a look down the side of the block to see if the tube has fallen out.
Of course if you have driven the car any or run the engine you would find quite a large puddle of oil under the car if the dipstick tube is not installed. Ask me how I know.
Thanks, I wish it were that simple. I did my first 30 minute test drive yesterday, eventually got it up to 100 on back roads, good oil pressure, etc. all was well , when I got back I wanted to check oil, no dipstick, no puddles, Maybe when I get it up in the air I'll find piping to a dry sump. or a sight plug on the pan.
I doubt it is dry sump. SBC's can have the Dipstick on either side depending on the Year and what it came in. I suspect it does not have the original Block and or Oil Pan. And there for its got a miss match of parts. Looking down at the Starter you should see where the Dip Stick Tube should be. And if not look on the other side.
The salesman contacted the PO, who doesn't seem to want to talk to me, and said he it was like that for ten years, no dipstick. I can't get it on my quick jack because of the ground effects, so I'll have to wait till I can get it up in the air and see if there is a way to get some kind of a dipstick in it. I guess I'll have to religiously change oil in a few thousand miles and see how much comes out. I'll measure the oil that comes out the first time too. It has a complete analog dash so I can keep a good eye on pressure and temp.
It will be a few weeks before I can get it to a lift, when I do I'll post what I find.
Thanks to all who replied.
You should be able to buy an aftermarket Oil Pan that has a Dipstick provision in it if you want to go that far. The later C4's had a Low Oil Level Switch in them. If Yours does maybe check to see if it works. A lot of new cars don't even come with a Dip Stick anymore most of the new owners wouldn't know what it did even if they could find it.
On the right side of block, above the oil pan, there would be the provision in the block for a dipstick tube. Either it has a steel plug in it, or someone filled it in with rtv. Either way it should be there. Putting a new one in isn't difficult, but I'd imagine it would require alot of things to be moved first (exhaust manifold, etc)
I finally found where it was and it was plugged, right where it should have been. Under the headers, but it looks like it possibly could be restored with a new tube. I'll try that.
Thanks for all your responses.
Greenwood Corvette
